One of Ottawa Centre Liberal MPP Richard Patten’s favourite — but contentious — causes has become somewhat of an election issue.
For years, the Ottawa Centre Liberal MPP has been attempting to change the Ontario Mental Health Act to make it easier for police, doctors and others to force the mentally ill who are perceived to be a threat to themselves or others to get treatment. Three time, Patten has introduced a private member’s bill in the Ontario legislature — only to have it rejected by the Tory majority.
Now, Premier Mike Harris has suddenly jumped on the bandwagon, proclaiming that his government, if re-elected, would do more or less what Patten had been urging all along.
Among other things, he promised more money for the mentally ill.
Predictably, the Liberals were not impressed.
Patten said the Conservatives should have supported his bills.
“That was the opportunity for the Harris government act. Instead, Mike Harris pays lip-service to the mentally ill during an election campaign.”
There is, however, some division among mental health experts on whether forcing patients into treatment is the best route to take.
The Canadian Mental Health Association says the current act is sufficient and the key is to increase funds for people with debilitating mental problems.
The association cites studies showing people who are forced into treatment are unlikely to stick with it later.
Ontario ‘must eliminate legal discrimination’
Ottawa Centre NDP candidate Elisabeth Arnold says the recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling on same-sex spousal rights proves that it’s high time the Ontario government amended all its laws to eliminate discrimination against lesbian and gay spouses.
“Instead of wasting taxpayers’ dollars to repeatedly go to court to fight against equality, the government must do the right thing and change all the laws instead of waiting for the courts to so,” Arnold said in a news release.
She was also critical of the Liberal opposition for not supporting NDP same-sex spousal legislation is 1994.
She particularly condemned Ottawa Centre Liberal MPP Richard Patten who, she claimed, promised during the 1995 campaign to do everything possible to bring forward legislation to ensure lesbians and gays and their relationships received full recognition on an equal footing with heterosexual relationships.”
She called Patten’s stand as being an accomplice to to the Harris government’s policies.